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Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted while continental lithosphere is not?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The density of the continental (granitic) lithosphere is lower than oceanic (basaltic) lithosphere. Consequently, due to buoyancy, the continental crust rides above the oceanic lithosphere and thus is not subducted. However, it is thought that pieces of the continental lithosphere break off and are subducted along with the oceanic lithosphere.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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How is continental lithosphere different from oceanic lithosphere?
Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.
How thick is the Earth's lithosphere?
The lithosphere includes the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. Oceanic lithosphere is typically about 50-100 km thick, while continental lithosphere has a range in thickness from about 40 km to perhaps 200 km.
What is the difference between the oceanic crust and continental crust and how does this influence plate boundary interactions?
When two plates move towards one another, they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. This depends on the nature of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate, which is normally a plate with oceanic crust, moves beneath the other plate, which can be made of either oceanic or continental crust. During collisions between two continental plates, large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas are formed. Oceanic crust is a type of crust that is submerged in huge bodies of water, while continental crust is the type of crust beneath the continents. Oceanic crust is thinner but denser, while the continental crust is thicker but lighter. Whenever a continental crust and an oceanic crust meets and collides, they form a convergence zone. The oceanic crust sinks below the continental crust(subduction zone) because it is denser. As it sinks into the mantle, it becomes magma which soon rises up to the surface to stabilize the mantle, thus creating a volcano. The continental crust, being the lighter one, does not sink. It may fold and form mountains. The nature of a convergent boundary depends on the type of lithosphere in the plates that are colliding. Where a dense oceanic plate collides with a less-dense continental plate, the oceanic plate is typically thrust underneath because of the greater buoyancy of the continental lithosphere, forming a subduction zone. At the surface, the topographic expression is commonly an oceanic trench on the ocean side and a mountain range on the continental side. An example of a continental-oceanic subduction zone is the area along the western coast of South America where the oceanic Nazca Plate is being subducted beneath the continental South American Plate.
What are 2 differences about the cotineantal and oceanic crust?
1. Continental crust is thick while Oceanic crust is relatively thinner. 2. Continental crust is lighter while Oceanic crust is relatively denser.
What are two differences between the continental crust and oceanic crust?
Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt
Why does oceanic lithosphere sub duct while continental lithosphere does not?
Oceanic lithosphere is dense enough to be forced down into the mantle. Continental lithosphere is not.
Name the two types of lithospheric plates?
There are two types of lithosphere: the oceanic lithosphere and the continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere exists in the ocean basins while the continental lithosphere exists in the continental crust.
How is continental lithosphere different oceanic lithosphere?
Continental lithosphere is thicker and less dense than oceanic lithosphere. Continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rock while oceanic crust is composed primarily of basaltic rock.
Why is the oceanic plate subducted when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
The Oceanic plate is subducted under the Continental plate because oceanic crust is much more dense than continental crust. The average density of the oceanic crust is 3g/cm^3 while the average density of continental crust is 2.7g/cm^3.
Give the name of one plate that contains mostly oceanic lithosphere and of one plate that continenmental litosphere?
The Pacific plate is mostly oceanic lithosphere while the North American plate is mostly continental lithosphere.
How is continental lithosphere different from oceanic lithosphere?
Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.
Explain the significance of the fact that the lithosphere is primarily composed of basalt while the crust is composed primarily of granite?
The lithosphere is composed of the oceanic and continental crust, along with the brittle uppermost mantle. The continental crust is mainly granitic, and the oceanic crust is primarily basalt.
How thick is the Earth's lithosphere?
The lithosphere includes the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. Oceanic lithosphere is typically about 50-100 km thick, while continental lithosphere has a range in thickness from about 40 km to perhaps 200 km.
What is the difference between the oceanic crust and continental crust and how does this influence plate boundary interactions?
When two plates move towards one another, they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. This depends on the nature of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate, which is normally a plate with oceanic crust, moves beneath the other plate, which can be made of either oceanic or continental crust. During collisions between two continental plates, large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas are formed. Oceanic crust is a type of crust that is submerged in huge bodies of water, while continental crust is the type of crust beneath the continents. Oceanic crust is thinner but denser, while the continental crust is thicker but lighter. Whenever a continental crust and an oceanic crust meets and collides, they form a convergence zone. The oceanic crust sinks below the continental crust(subduction zone) because it is denser. As it sinks into the mantle, it becomes magma which soon rises up to the surface to stabilize the mantle, thus creating a volcano. The continental crust, being the lighter one, does not sink. It may fold and form mountains. The nature of a convergent boundary depends on the type of lithosphere in the plates that are colliding. Where a dense oceanic plate collides with a less-dense continental plate, the oceanic plate is typically thrust underneath because of the greater buoyancy of the continental lithosphere, forming a subduction zone. At the surface, the topographic expression is commonly an oceanic trench on the ocean side and a mountain range on the continental side. An example of a continental-oceanic subduction zone is the area along the western coast of South America where the oceanic Nazca Plate is being subducted beneath the continental South American Plate.
What are four differences between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?
1. The Oceanic crust is dense while the Continental crust is relatively lighter. 2. The Oceanic crust consists of Silicon and Magnessium, while the Continental crust has Silicon and Alluminium. 3. The Oceanic crust is thin, while the Continental crust is thick. 4. The Oceanic crust makes up the ocean floor, while the Continental crust carries the continents.
What are 2 differences about the cotineantal and oceanic crust?
1. Continental crust is thick while Oceanic crust is relatively thinner. 2. Continental crust is lighter while Oceanic crust is relatively denser.
What are two difference between the continental crust and the oceanic?
Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt
